An advanced manufacturing Industry 4.0 hub will be established at Swinburne University.
The hub is funded by a $2 million grant from the Victorian government’s Future Industries Fund and will pioneer a new model of university-industry collaboration where businesses and universities not only co-create technology but also business strategy.
It will work with local manufacturers to develop digitalisation strategies for their business, increase their digital maturity and provide training to help them use Industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, smart robotics and virtual reality to grow their business and innovate on their business model.
The Factory of the Future is Australia’s first fully immersed Industry 4.0 facility, featuring cutting edge and globally connected technologies including MindSphere – a cloud-based Industrial Internet of Things operating system developed by global technology giant Siemens.
READ: University of South Australia granted Industry 4.0 software suite
Victorian minister for industry and employment, Ben Carroll, said digital transformation of manufacturing is a game changer.
“[That] is why we’re creating a new advanced manufacturing hub – to ensure Victorian businesses are well equipped to take advantage of this technology,” he said.
“The hub will help local manufacturers unlock the opportunities that exist with digital technologies to transform their operations, and deliver cutting edge products and services,” said Carroll.
Swinburne deputy vice-chancellor professor Aleksandar Subic said the adoption of new generation digital technologies and processes is crucial due to the highly competitive environment of manufacturing internationally.
“Industry 4.0 is all about the next stage of development in the manufacturing sector driven by digitalisation.
“Automation and the Industrial Internet of Things in particular are transforming the manufacturing industry, presenting us with new business opportunities through better integration with the global supply chain,” said Subic.
The hub will leverage Swinburne’s $100 million investment in advanced manufacturing infrastructure and expertise.
It will be made available to local manufacturers through this initiative, which is also supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC).
It will also benefit students who will work side-by side with industry and researchers developing and co-creating new technologies and practices.
Swinburne is linking vocational training and higher education to create the skilled, digitally savvy workforce of the future.
The university is developing new courses based on Industry 4.0 strategy.